PayPal cancels North Carolina center in protest of law that 'denies equal rights'

Company will not open center that would have employed over 400 people, citing a recently passed law they say discriminates against LGBT citizens

PayPal cancelled plans for a new operation center that would have employed over 400 people in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday citing the state's recently passed religious freedom law that critics say discriminates against the LGBT community.

"Two weeks ago, PayPal announced plans to open a new global operations center in Charlotte and employ over 400 people in skilled jobs. In the short time since then, legislation has been abruptly enacted by the State of North Carolina that invalidates protections of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens and denies these members of our community equal rights under the law," Dan Schulman, president and chief executive officer of PayPal, said in a letter released on Tuesday.